They say that the third time’s the charm, but sometimes, some movie franchises prove that the fourth time can be pretty great, too. The fourth film in a movie series is called a fourquel, and there have been many such films throughout the history of cinema.
Not many fourquels are able to keep the magic of the three movies that came before them, but those that pull off such a feat are usually a blast of fun to watch. From the overhatedIndiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skullto the cultural phenomenon that wasAvengers: Endgame,fourquels have proved to be able to achieve some really amazing things.
It May Be the Weakest One, But It Sure Is Fun! — ‘Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’ (2008)
The first threeIndiana Jonesfilms are among the most beloved adventure movies ever made. When a legacy sequel was announced 18 years after the last film’s release, fans were excited to see where the franchise could go after so many years.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skullwas released to rather mixed critical and audience reception. As the years have passed, though, public opinion on the movie seems to have warmed up a bit, and now it’s generally accepted for what it is: By far the worst movie of the series, but also with a fair share of scenes and elements that make it quite entertaining for Indy fans.
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An Entirely New Direction for the Franchise — ‘Live Free or Die Hard’ (2007)
The firstDie Hardis praised as one of the best action films ever made, and its first two sequels also have a decent number of fans. But whenLive Free or Die Hard, about protagonist John McClane (Bruce Willis) trying to stop a ring of Internet terrorists, came out 12 years after the previous movie, it was clear that the franchise had taken a complete turn.
There is a scene where McClane jumps from a spinning jet toward a bridge and sticks the landing while the jet blows up behind him. That’s all you need to hear to know how ludicrously over-the-top this sequel is. Admittedly, many fans didn’t like that about it; but others loved seeing the beloved John McClane in such a purely fun action flick that never takes itself too seriously.
Rocky Goes to the U.S.S.R. — ‘Rocky IV’ (1985)
TheRockyfranchise has some of the most widely beloved sports films out there—IncludingSylvester Stallone’sRocky IV, where a colossal Soviet athlete (Dolph Lundgren) kills Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) in an exhibition match, and Rocky must travel to Russia to get a revenge match.
This fourquel is without a doubt theRockymovie that most feels like a product of its time, with silly plot points, a cheesy tone, andmore training montages than you can count. Yet it’s still a delightful time with a thrilling third act, good performances, and some of the most talked-about scenes in the franchise.
The Key to Saving the Future Lies in the Past — ‘Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home’ (1986)
Directed byLeonard Nimoy, who plays the fan-favorite character of Captain Spock,Star Trek IVfinds Kirk (William Shatner) and his crew having to travel back in time in order to save mankind from an alien threat.
Well-executed time travel stories can always be a lot of fun, and the fourthStar Trekfilm is one such story. It’s an ambitious movie but never takes itself too seriously, becoming one of the most enjoyable, fun, and irresistibly charming installments in the franchise.
It’s a Wonderful Life Indeed — ‘Shrek Forever After’ (2010)
Talk about underappreciated! Although it may not be as magical as the first twoShrekfilms, the fourth installment in the series, where Shrek (voiced byMike Myers) gets to see what the world would have been like without his existence, is every bit as moving and meaningful.
Shrek Forever Afteris the closing chapter in the protagonist’s journey of learning to love others, love himself, and allow others to love him. It has a really fun and menacing villain, a beautiful exploration of Shrek and Fiona’s relationship, and the perfect ending for the franchise.
The Cinematic Event of the Century — ‘Avengers: Endgame’ (2019)
For all its faults,Avengers: Endgamedeserves the utmost admiration for what it managed to achieve: Being the culmination of an unprecedentedly massive movie franchise and bringing it all together in a way that most fans found not just satisfying but incredibly enjoyable.
There are fewMCUmovies as charming, exciting, memorable, and moving asEndgame. The way it closes off so many storylines, character arcs, and the exorbitant number of iconic scenes rate it among the most epic movie fourquels ever made.
RELATED:5 Ways ‘Avengers: Endgame Was Influenced by Akira Kurosawa’s ‘Seven Samurai’
The Dark Lord Is Back — ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’ (2005)
Starting his fourth year at Hogwarts, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) competes in the deadly Triwizard Tournament under mysterious circumstances, while the evil Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) lurks, awaiting his chance to destroy Harry and everything he stands for.
AfterAlfonso Cuaróntook theHarry Potterfranchise to darker territory than ever before,Mike Newellcontinued with that atmosphereand added some of his own spice.Goblet of Firecan be thrilling, touching, and funny while feeling dark and menacing whenever it needs to.
The Quintessential Children’s Christmas Film — ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’ (1992)
Everyone loves a good Christmas movie, and there are few quite as lovely asThe Muppet Christmas Carol. In it, theMuppetsoffer their own version of theCharles Dickensclassic about the redemption of a stingy old man on Christmas Eve.
This classic is aboutas sweet, cute, and wholesome as they come. Aside from being visually striking, it also manages to tell a widely-known story in a way that makes it feel truly fresh and special.
No Plan. No Backup. No Choice — ‘Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol’ (2011)
TheMission: Impossiblefranchise is one of the most beloved action movie series, and some argue thatGhost Protocolis where it peaked. The movie is directed byBrad Bird, known for animated classics likeThe Iron GiantandThe Incredibles, and shows Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his team on a race against time to track down a dangerous terrorist.
This fourquel offers some of the most thrilling sequences in action movie history, such as Tom Cruise climbing the world’s tallest building from the outside. The whole movie is pristinely directed and an insane amount of fun.
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The Original That Became a Fourquel — ‘Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope’ (1977)
Some may consider this one cheating sinceA New Hope(originally titled onlyStar Wars) was not conceived as a sequel of any sort. However, with the release ofGeorge Lucas’s prequel trilogy, it can now be considered a fourquel—And the best one ever made, at that.
A New Hopetells a relatively simple “hero’s journey” story in a way so creative, epic, emotional, and fun, that many consider it one of the greatest sci-fi movies to ever grace the big screen. It has an entertaining story, compelling characters, stunning visual effects, a perfect score, and countless scenes that make it the most entertaining fourth film in a series that you could possibly find.
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